G/TBT/N/ISR/1184  
15 March 2021  
(21-2142) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  ISRAEL   
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:   
Israel WTO -TBT Enquiry Point  
Ministry of Economy and Industry  
Tel: + (972) 74 750 2236  
E-mail: Yael.Friedgut@economy.gov.il  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addre sses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [   ], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [X], 5.7.1 [   ], other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  All 
products and commodities subject to Mandatory Standards  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Import  and 
Export Decree (Import Groups), 5721 -2021 (65 page(s), in Hebrew)  
6. Description of content:  The Minister of Economy and Industry had signed Israel's 
Import and Export Decree (Import Groups). This Decree updates Israel's Import Groups 
Regime and eases  the conformity assessment requirements for imported products subject 
to Israel Mandatory Standards.  
There are currently about 500 Mandatory Standards in Israel (excluding food) subject to 
this regulatory import regime. These standards are divided into fou r import groups 
according to the products' potential risk:  
• Group 1 - Highest risk level:  Requires type approval; Partial tests for each 
shipment (currently about 240 standards);  
• Group 2 - Intermediate risk level : Requires type approval; Importer's 
declaration of conformity for each shipment (currently about 170 standards);  
• Group 3 - Low level of danger:  Requires only an importer's declaration of 
conformity for each shipment;  
• Group 4 - Goods intended solely for industrial use:  Does not req uire any 
examination before releasing from customs.   
As part of the reform, only 150 standards will remain in Group 1, and the rest will be 
moved and classified under Groups 2 and 3; Thus, the import regime will be eased, 
followed by increased market surve illance.  G/TBT/N/ISR/1184  
 
- 2 - 
 
  This reform will not apply to high prioritized  products, such as products intended for 
babies and toddlers, gas -operated appliances, etc., that will remain in Import Group 1.  
The reform will enter into force in three steps:  
• First step - 1 May 2021 : 
The standards detailed as "First step" included in Annex 5 (pages 43 -49) will be 
moved on 1 May 2021 to the new Import Group as detailed in the 4th column 
and according to conditions, where applicable;  
• Second step - 2 March 2022:  
The standards detailed a s "Second step" included in Annex 5 (pages 50 -57) will 
be moved on 2 March 2022 to the new Import Group as detailed in the 4th 
column and according to conditions, where applicable;  
• Third step - 2 March 2023:  
The standards detailed as "Third step" included in Annex 5 (pages 58 -68) will be 
moved on 2 March 2023 to the new Import Group as detailed in the 4th column 
and according to conditions, where applicable.  
The Commissioner of Standardization has the authority to postpone the entry into force 
of each step unless arrangements for the increased market surveillance are fulfilled.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Reducing trade barriers and facilitating trade  
8. Relevant documents:   
• Import and Export Ordinance [New Version], 5769 -1979;  
• Standards Law, 5733 -1953.  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  2 March 2021  
Proposed date of entry into force:  1 May 2021 ; First step - 1 May 2021;  
Second step - 2 March 2022;  
Third step - 2 March 2023.  
10. Final date for comments:  30 April 2021  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
WTO-TBT Enquiry Point  
Yael.Friedgut@economy.gov.il   
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/TBT/ISR/21_1962_00_x.pdf